Ministry of Tribal Affairs
5 Day State Level Craft Mela starts in Visakhapatnamon Janjatiya Gaurav Divas as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav
Key Highlights
- State Level Craft Mela  is scheduled from the 15th November to 19th November 2021
- Quiz competitions, art & painting competitions also being organised in ASHRAM schools and residential schools as part of the Birsa Munda Birth Anniversary
The Union Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister declared 15th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas  which will mark the celebration of the rich cultural heritage of tribes and also remember their role in the freedom struggle. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will also undertake various initiatives during the Tribal Pride Week beginning on 15th November.
In this context, the Tribal Cultural Research & Training Mission, TW Department, Andhra Pradesh govt., in collaboration with ITDAs, GCC, TRIFED, Tribal Handicrafts Societies etc has organized a State Level Tribal Crafts Mela Cum Sale at Visakhapatnam. The 1st Tribal Pride Day was organized on the eve of Bhagavan Birsha Munda 146 Birth Anniversary to commemorate the rich cultural heritage of tribal communities in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This programme was supported by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs , New Delhi.
A 5 Day State Level Craft Mela  isbeing held from the 15th November to 19th November 2021 at RK Beach Ground, Opposite Viswapriya Function Hall, RK beach, Visakhapatnam.
The chief guest Shri P. Ranjit Basha, IAS Director of Tribal Welfare deptt of A.P. said that the state of Andhra Pradesh has a rich heritage of tribal handicrafts and craftsman skills which are traditional and specialized, and usually passed on from one generation to another. These handicrafts have become means of livelihood for the crafts persons, he added. He further stated that it is imperative to explore through different strategies the promotion of tribal handicrafts for sustaining the traditional tribal handicrafts, and this tribal Craft mela is an important step in that direction.
The following categories of tribal handicrafts have been included in this mela:
- Bamboo products like decorative items & Furniture items
- Palm Leaves Decorating Items Making
- Tribal Ethnic Food related products like Biscuits with millets, Cashew Syrup, Millets All verities
- Jute Products like decorative, gags etc
- Different varieties of Hill Brooms
- Cloth related products
- Lacquer Products,
- Terracotta Products
- Wood Turning Products
- Wrought Iron Products
- Incentive sticks - Agarabathi
- Sericulture products etc
All the various categories of tribal handicrafts have been collected from the different tribal communities including Particularly Tribal Vulnerable Communities like Savara, Konda Reddi and other tribal groups of Konda Dora, Nooka Dora, Koya, Jatapu, Konda Kammara, Gouda, Valmiki, Bhagataha, Kotia etc.
There is a total of 25 stalls in exhibition mode and including products of Bamboo , Ethnic tribal products like agricultural products like Turmeric, Millets, a Stall from GCC, TRIEFED and Coffee from paderu agency.
There will be tribal cultural programmes daily at the mela including tribal Dances of Dimsa, Kommu Dance, Savara – Andela Ravali dance, Chenchu Dances, Mayura dance, Mayuraetc
Apart from this quiz competitions, art & painting competitions are also being held in ASHRAM schools and residential schools as part of the Birsa Munda Birth Anniversary in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Out of the 50 Ekalayva Model Residential Schools whose foundation was laid by the Prime Minister virtually, as a part of the “JANAJATIYA GAURAV DIVAS” , three are located in Andhra Pradesh ieat Pedabayalu, G. Modugula and Araku Valley .